

'^ssssS^' 


am PS 3525 

Rook .0: & 8 


Oopight N° . i 1 K-'Jj 


C OKffilCHT DEPOSIT. 



















s 






































* 























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Queen Anne Cast Aside Her Crown 













Sftje ($umt0 0j>ift 


A FANTASY 

By 

Adah Terrell Moffatt 
n 


Illustrations from drawings made and 
photographs posed by the author 




BOSTON 

The Roxburgh Publishing Company 


INCORPORATED 



\<\^ b 




Copyrighted 1923 

By The Roxburgh Publishing Company, Incorporated 
All Rights Reserved 


JUN 21 1923 

©C1A704085 

‘Ttf /, 


Dedicated 
to my dear sister 
SELMA ALICE TRACY 
Avec gage d'amour 




ILLUSTRATIONS 


From drawings made and photographs posed 
by the author 

Page 

1. Queen Anne Cast Aside Her Crown 

(Frontispiece) 

2. Scattered Lace Medallions and 

Visioned Lacelike Flowers Abloom 24 

3. The Gnome-Owl Shrilled a Promise 30 

4. The Lady-in-Waiting Frantically 

Searched the Heavens ... 34 

5. Sang Lustily as they Planted the 

Lace Medallions.38 

6. They Found the Exhausted Queen 

Asleep.42 

7. The Apteryx and Gnome Playing in 

Gnomeland.52 

8. AGnomide Was the First to Discover 

the Flowers in Bloom .... 56 

9. “Wonderful! Wonderful!” exclaimed 

Queen Anne, in Delight ... 60 

10. Lines to a White Spider .... 70 






CONTENTS 


Page 

Dedication.3 

A Comparison of Queens.7 

The Roar of the Cannon.9 

The Robe of Lace.10 

For a Time, Queen Anne Discards Her 

Crown.12 

In disguise, the Queen Leaves the Castle 14 
In Which She Meets Some Old Friends 15 
The Magic Seeds — Then Life! ... 19 

The Drop of Blood.25 

Gnomeland and the Great-Grandmother 27 
Consternation in the Royal Castle . . 31 

The Magic Seeds From the Earthern Jar 35 
Planting the Lace Medallions ... 37 

The Exhausted Queen was Asleep . . 38 

Queen Anne Returns to the Castle . . 45 

The Passing of the Seasons .... 48 

Something About Gnomeland ... 49 

The Wingless and Tailless Birds ... 50 

The Magic Flowers are Blooming . . 54 

Queen Anne Beholds the Wonderful 

Flowers.58 

The Magical Disappearance of the 
Gnomes.63 








vi CONTENTS 

Page 

The Queen is Dead.64 

The Queen’s Gift.65 

Lace Flowers and White Spiders . . 71 
Ask the Gnomes — They Know! . . 72 




SPJ (§mtn& (gift 

- * - 

A COMPARISON OF QUEENS 


Y DEARS, did you know that a long, 
long time ago, or to be more definite, 
that away back in the early part of the 
Seventeenth Century, there lived a Queen 
who was not perfectly beautiful? If this is the 
first information you have received of the 
deplorable fact, how amazed and disappointed 
you will be! Since Time began, all the old 
romantic legends depicted Queens, no matter 
where they ruled, as being endowed with 
Beauty of an entrancing and even dazzling 
nature, so it is but natural that we should 
vision them in the same way. 

nVfOW Anne, the heroine of this Fantasy, 
was the Queen of Great Britain and 
Ireland, having ascended the throne in 1702, 
and was found to be more worthy of esteem 




8 


THE QUEEN'S GIFT 


as a woman than of admiration as a Queen, 
because she allowed others to influence her 
during a greater part of her reign, in political 
matters. She had married Prince George of 
Denmark, but he was not politically inclined, 
and therefore could not help her in the 
burden of royal duties. Anne’s character, 
as a Queen, was therefore considered weak, 
but she was greatly beloved by all her subjects 
who found that she possessed something far 
more desirable than mere loveliness of face 
and form, or the great strength of character 
generally expected of a Ruler. Anne’s heart 
was wonderfully kind and tender; the welfare 
of the people of her Dominion being her first 
consideration. This fact was very comforting 
to both the Higher and Lower classes, for 
they had all read or heard of Queens, sur¬ 
passingly lovely of countenance, with fas¬ 
cinating manners, whose hearts were terribly 
cruel, and who had acquired the dreadful habit 
of beheading their subjects for the least little 
thing said or done , which was contrary to their 
Royal Majesties' wishes! 


THE QUEEN'S GIFT 


9 


>0 good Queen Anne’s Subjects, with 
no fear that she would point her 
jeweled scepter at them, and exclaim: “Off, 
off with their miserable heads,” appreciated 
the fact that her heart was full of love for 
them, and quite forgot that she was not 
perfectly beautiful! All the women and 
especially the peasants were sorry for the 
Queen, because, although she had been the 
mother of many children, all had died in 
infancy, with the exception of one son — the 
Duke of Gloucester — and he only lived to 
be eleven years old. Poor Anne, without 
children! Sad Queen Anne! 

Gflje Soar of tlje flfattmm 

“The love of arms and the mad wickedness of War are 
raging."— VIRGIL. 

^THERE were troublous times in the coun- 
tries over which the Queen reigned; one 
war closely following another, and the roar 
of the cannon was constantly heard. Many 
brilliant successes attended her armies, yet 
in spite of these victories, the good Queen was 
very unhappy; her mind being distressed over 


10 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


the sorrow of the women whose fathers, 
brothers, husbands or sons had died upon the 
battlefield. 


^VTIGHT after night she could not sleep; 

over and over again, she visioned the 
bloody strife, and her health became greatly 
impaired. All the efforts of her physician, 
who lived in the Castle, failed to bring the 
soothing sleep so much desired and needed. 
Thus it came about that the Queen felt her 
life was surely ebbing away, and longed to 
do something to show her Subjects, and 
especially the peasants, how much she loved 
them. At last upon one of her very restless 
nights, she thought of a plan by which she 
could leave them a gift which they would 
cherish and preserve for her sake, when she 
had passed away. 


Sftje Slobe of Hate 

/fftNE of the robes which Anne wore upon 
ceremonial occasions was a bright ruby 
colored heavy satin, with a long train, over 
which was draped another robe of most 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


11 


magnificent fine white lace in exquisite 
medallion forms, each one connected by the 
finest thread the lace-makers had been able 
to procure. Anne, being very artistic, had 
designed the lace, and the peasant women in 
weaving it, had closely followed her instruc¬ 
tions. 

MONG all her rich and lovely posses- 
~ * sions there was none which pleased 
the Queen more than this work of art, which 
the others called “the Robe of Queen Anne’s 
Lace.” To tear apart the fine beautiful 
medallions; to scatter them along the roads 
and near the doors of the cottages of the 
peasants, was her plan, accompanied by the 
thought that when they were found, the 
people would accept them as a gift from her, 
and realize that this act on her part, was to 
show them that her love would be theirs, 
even after death. 


JjjlAVING decided fully upon the plan, 
sleep came to her, although somewhat fit¬ 
fully; bringing about some improvement in 


12 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


health, and the members of the Royal Castle 
rejoiced again in the sunshine of her smile. 
They gave the credit, however, to her Royal 
Majesty’s physician, who had been for a 
long time trying to control her insomnia; 
they believed he had succeeded in restoring 
to her the soothing sleep she had so much 
needed. 


3fnr A Slime, Qjiueett Anne SiacariiB 
lijt'r flfrnmn 

Jjf^ATE one September afternoon Anne 
dismissed her advisors, descended from 
the Throne, and, greatly to the astonishment 
of those who saw her, threw aside the Crown, 
as if weary of it, and all that it meant, and 
accompanied by her Lady-in-waiting, as¬ 
cended the stairs to her own private apart¬ 
ment where she sank down upon a large 
velvet divan. 


TlTOR tier Majesty’s inspection, the 

Lady-in-waiting brought forth several 
handsome and costly robes, one of which 
Anne was to select, to be worn that night by 


THE QUEEN 'S GIFT 


13 


her at the great Banquet which was to be 
held in the Castle, in honor of a number of 
High Army Officials who had just returned 
from a victorious battle. 

/jftBSESSED with the plan of leaving the 
lace medallions as a gift to her subjects, 
Queen Anne wished to carry it out without 
further delay, and had no intention whatever 
of attending the Banquet. This decision, 
however, she kept to herself; selected a robe, 
and then sent the woman upon an errand of 
such a perplexing and entangling nature that 
it would detain her for a long, long time. Her 
command was: 


<$' 


O up to the Eastern Tower of the 
Castle — look diligently around for 
'The Priceless Emerald,’ and from the win¬ 
dows, search the heavens for 'The Star of 
Hope.’ ’Tis a difficult task, but very inter¬ 
esting, so take all the time you need.” The 
Lady-in-waiting, much bewildered, dared ask 
no questions, and went away upon her quest. 


14 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


3n Disguise tlje (fueen Heaues 
tlje (Eastle 

/jftUEEN Anne, thus left alone, gave a 
Vc great sigh of relief; took up the robe 
of exquisite white lace and tore apart the 
fine threads which connected the medallions 
— thus separating them, and placed them 
upon the divan. She worked rapidly but it 
began to grow dark before she had finished 
the task of love, so she took that part of the 
robe which was left, and placed the medallions 
within its folds. Quickly she removed her 
gorgeous robe and hung it carefully away, 
then donned one of her maid’s satin robes 
and enveloped herself in a long dark cloak, 
drawing the hood well over her face and 
under her chin. Thus disguised, she tucked 
the bundle of lace under her arm and left the 
apartment. 

'jiT was the supposition of the coachman 
*** and footman, who saw her as she 
stepped forth from the Castle, that she was 
one of the Ladies-in-waiting who had been 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


15 


sent out upon some matter pertaining to the 
Queen, so the door was thrown open, and she 
was assisted into the coach. Drawing the 
hood of her cloak more closely about her face, 
Anne directed that she be taken to the out¬ 
skirts of the city. 

/ 7j(N the coach she spread the lace out 
over her knees and rapidly, yet care¬ 
fully, tore out the remaining medallions from 
the robe, then rested happily back against 
the cushions until the coachman stopped the 
horses, and the footman held open the door. 
She gathered up the bundle of medallions, 
stepped out, and bade the men await her 
return. 

3n Mljtcl) Meets g’ome ©lb 
jfeienbs 

^TTHE hamlet where the Queen wished 
to go lay on the other side of a strip 
of Woods, which she entered, and quickly 
found a well remembered path where the 
early moonlight was softly gleaming. At 
once she became aware of the presence of 


16 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


her old friends, the Gnomes. Many ca¬ 
pered and frisked around her; some leaped 
into the trees and leaning down from the 
branches, laughed gleefully and shouted in 
delight— “ Tis Anne, our own dear Anne.” 
Then remembering the change which the 
World had made in her position, added: 
“And now a Queen,” and all surrounded her, 
bowing again and again. Then some ran 
ahead and pushed back clinging vines and 
brier bushes that they might not obstruct her 
path. 

NNE walked slowly along, enjoying the 
* * renewed acquaintance, and felt sorry 
that for so long a time she had allowed her 
Royal duties to completely efface from her 
mind all thought of these dear Gnome friends. 
How glad she was now to be among them 
again, and at once decided to unfold her 
plan to them — they would understand! 


CTTHESE Gnomes belonged to the older 
members of the Tribe; they were the 
males who made it their duty to guard mines 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


17 


and miners during the day time (many 
others were now in the mines and would 
remain all night); although never seen by 
the miners their presence and protective 
ability was felt. They were small, ugly and 
some of them were misshapen. 


CT'HE Gnomides were the females of the 
race; the older ones taking upon 
themselves the duty of being special guardians 
of diamonds. They were dainty in appear¬ 
ance and very beautiful. 

'HEN Anne and the Gnomes had 
walked through the Woods and were 
near the road leading to the Hamlet, they 
came to a moss-covered log. Her old friends 
pointed to it and she allowed them to pull 
her down upon it. While some of them 
gathered thick, soft moss and placed it as a 
cushion under her feet, the others ran away 
to the land where the Gnomes live, and 
brought back with them many exquisite 
Gnomides and little Gnome children, some 
of whom were brown as a berry; others 


18 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


fair as a lily. All were adorned with the 
bright Fulgaridae or Lantern-flies, which 
glowed in their hair. These beautiful little 
creatures gently tucked the Queen’s cloak 
more closely around her; whispered love 
words of welcome, and caressed her. Anne’s 
eyes shone upon them with pleasure and 
appreciation. 

^IjUDDENLY the Oldest Gnome clapped 
^ his hands together and the whole 
Tribe quickly gathered around him, while 
the Gnome owl in a small tree nearby, 
fluffed his feathers out and hooted shrilly 
until all became attentive. They knew that 
Anne was in trouble; that she had come to 
confide in them and to ask their help just 
as she had often done long before a Crown 
had been placed upon her head. She smiled 
upon them as they silently awaited the 
pleasure of hearing her speak. 


“JjtjY dear ones all,” she began, ‘T am on 
my way to leave mementoes for my 
Subjects, that they may know how much I 
love them. I have some very fine lace 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


19 


medallions here,” she laid her hand upon the 
bundle lying in her lap, ‘‘which I will drop 
along the roadside and near the cottage 
doors. The lace-makers and peasant women 
will recall the design; gather up the medal¬ 
lions, and know that I have left them each 
a gift by which they will remember me, when 
I have passed away.” 


e magic g’ee&H—ufljen Safe! 

S Queen Anne concluded, the Gnome 
** ^ owl hooted softly; the Gnomes and 
Gnomides sighed contentedly, and the 
Oldest Gnome stepped back; threw out 
his hands in quite a dramatic fashion, and 
in a thin, high-pitched voice exclaimed: 


"3 


CRAVE pardon, most gracious Queen, 
but whilst thou wast speaking, my 
mind conceived a truly wonderful plan by 
which this Tribe of Gnomes can aid thee. 
Wouldst have it revealed?” 


A NNE inclined her head in happy 
assent, and leaned forward in earnest 
attention. The older Gnomes stroked their 


20 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


beards, and grinned knowingly, for, from the 
manner of the Oldest Gnome they knew 
to what he would refer; while the Gnomides 
and children clasped their hands tightly over 
their hearts in excited anticipation. 

•'JjjLEASE know, thou best of women,” 
began the Oldest Gnome, accompany¬ 
ing his words with a great many odd gestures, 
“that for generations, we, in Gnomeland, 
have had in our possession an old earthen 
jar containing mysterious and wonderful 
Magic Seeds — these to be used only when 
we shall have found some inanimate objects 
worthy of being brought to life! This 
covered and sealed jar is even now being 
guarded by my own Great-Grandmother who 
has oft exprest the wish that she might have 
the solemn privilege of uncovering the jar, 
and Our Tribe have the honor of planting 
the Magic Seeds that would bring to life 
that which would bring pleasure to many.” 
As the Oldest Gnome stopped and bowed low, 
the Queen, whose interest was intense, mo- 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


21 


tioned to him to proceed quickly. Her 
excitement was increasing to an alarming 
extent — for she almost knew what he was 
going to say! Stepping back, and raising his 
right arm up over his head, the Oldest Gnome 
proceeded: 


**7i time has come, when, through the 
power of the Magic Seeds, thy lace me¬ 
dallions shall spring into life—into most won¬ 
derful white flowers. A gift that will live 
and bloom for thy people—year unto year, 
in remembrance of thee and thy loving 
thought.” 

/jftUEEN Anne stood up; one hand clasped 
the bundle of lace to her heart—the 
other outstretched towards the beaming 
Gnomes, while her eyes sparkled with 
excitement. In a voice trembling with her 
emotion, she exclaimed: 


Y most loving friends! That through 
your help my gift will become a 
living one, is truly miraculous; almost un¬ 
believable, but my faith in you and in the 


22 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


Magic Seeds is unbounded. My heart is 
so full of gratitude I scarcely know what to 
say, but this — I most gladly accept the 
plan and pray that I may live to see the 
wonderful and beautiful flowers.” 


'TIN great glee the whole Tribe shouted 
*** and danced around her — then with a 
great deal of vigor, sang a song, the language 
of which must have belonged only to Gnome- 
land, for the Queen did not understand a 
word of it. The Gnome owl’s boisterous 
hooting brought the silence which the Oldest 
Gnome had been vainly trying to get by 
clapping his hands together. 

[N no way will we interfere with thy 
part of the scheme, kindest and best 
of Queens,” declared the earnest Gnome, 
pulling his beard and rolling his eyes, “thou 
shalt scatter the lace medallions as planned 
by thy gracious self — we will but follow 
after!” 

,0 the Queen left the woods, and walked 
out into the faint moonlight to the 
road. Softly singing a song of youth and 


3 





Scattered Lace Medallions and Visioned Lacelike Flowers Abloom 







THE QUEEN'S GIFT 


25 


gladness, she began to drop the medallions 
by the wayside. Some fell among the 
thornbushes; in the dust of the road; in the 
corner of fences, and many near the doors of 
the cottages, which were closed for the night. 
On and on went Anne, yet sometimes stopped 
and visioned the lace-like flowers abloom, and 
her heart glowed with the wonder of it! 

Q[l)e Strop of Slooft 

Qi FTER the Queen had left the woods, 
* V the Gnomes stood near the log, while 
the Oldest Gnome explained in detail how 
they, with their spades and Magic Seeds, 
would plant the medallions. Suddenly 
several frisky young gnomes sprang out to 
the road, and the one who leaped the fastest 
got the first piece of lace that fell from the 
hand of the Queen. He scampered back 
into the woods, where he was immediately 
surrounded by the others. He spread the 
medallion out upon his long brown hand; 
they examined it and exclaimed in delight 
over its beauty. Then a very bright-eyed 


26 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


little Gnomide discovered a small red spot 
in the center of it. “Ah-h! oooh! what is 
that?” she screamed in fright. In awe and 
silence the Gnomes crowded over it, then 
the Oldest Gnome called out in a shrill voice 
“ ’Tis Blood /” At once they all fell back 
in dismay, but were quickly reassured when 
the Gnome owl screeched, “The Queen 
pricked her finger on a thornbush, and of 
course, some blood fell upon the lace.” This 
explanation lifted the terror from their 
hearts, for they had feared that some harm 
had befallen their much beloved Anne. They 
were further reassured when the Gnome who 
had picked up the medallion exclaimed: 



HE Owl says true — for I saw a thorn- 
bush near the edge of the road, with 


several medallions hanging upon it.” 


/TTHE beautiful piece of lace fascinated 
^ them and they decided to keep it. 
They rolled aside a large stone which was 
under the tree, and the smallest Gnomide 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


27 


laid the medallion on the ground and spread 
it out carefully; then one of the Strongest 
Gnomes placed the heavy stone over it, 
while the Gnome owl scratched the limb 
upon which he was sitting, with his sharp 
claws, and hooted shrilly in approval. It 
was thus that the Gnomes secured a souvenir 
of Queen Anne’s Lace. 

<$nomelanii atth tlje ($reat-($can&motl]er 

MOMENT later they all disappeared into 
* * the land where the Gnomes live! Now 
if you do not know where that is, this fan¬ 
tasy will not enlighten you. Only those who 
are acquainted with the Gnomes know the 
whereabouts of their abode. Now in Gnome- 
land the ugly Gnomes and the lovely Gno- 
mides surrounded the great-grandmother of the 
Oldest Gnome, and told her all about their 
meeting with good Queen Anne; of her wish 
to leave a gift to her Subjects, and that they 
had promised to help her and now wanted 
the Magic Seeds. 


28 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


^THE great-grandmother was deeply in- 
^ terested and greatly excited, but de¬ 
clared they could not have the seeds until 
she, herself, had seen the lace medallion 
which was under the stone. Without further 
ado, the strongest Gnomes gathered her up 
into their long arms, and ran, with the whole 
tribe at their heels, (except those left to guard 
the Magic Seeds and the Diamonds) and 
soon reached the place which the Gnome 
owl was guarding. The stone was lifted; the 
great grandmother was lowered to the 
ground where she gazed with great delight 
upon the exquisite lace medallion. Pointing 
to the stain she prophesied: 

“IjJOU will find upon each medallion 
si which the Queen scattered abroad, 
a drop of blood — in the center of it, you 
must place the Magic Seed. You must 
cover them with the earth, and sing lustily 
as you plant.” She then taught them the 
words, accompanied by a very weird tune. 






r 



The Ci no me Owl Shrilled a Promise 




THE > Q U E E N ’S GIFT 


31 


ffl'HE Tribe clapped their hands, and 
promised to strictly follow the great 
grandmother’s directions. Again gathering up 
the old Gnomide into their arms, the strong¬ 
est Gnomes, with all the others scampered back 
to Gnomeland, while the Gnome owl shrilled 
after them a promise — including a pun — 

“0 Skee! Skee! Skee! 

0 You Gno-me — 

I'll help too , 

You'll see! You'll see!" 

This caused the Oldest Gnome to halt, turn 
around and call back “That’s right, you’re 
helping now, and I appoint you “ The 
guardian of the treasure under the stone." 


Qfmiaterttatum In tfje Soya l Qlaatlc 

J7T H E High Army Officials and other 
guests who had assembled for the 
Banquet, awaited the appearance of the 
Queen. Time passed on; they became rest¬ 
less, and inquiry was made as to the cause 
of Anne’s absence. When, after what seemed 
a long time, those in quest of the Queen, 


32 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


came back and announced that neither Anne 
or her Lady-in-waiting were in the Royal 
private apartments, great consternation en¬ 
sued and the guests all joined in a thorough 
search of the Castle. 

/TTHEY did not find the Queen, but in 
the Eastern Tower some of the 
searchers came upon her Lady-in-waiting 
who was frantically rushing from one window 
to another — looking out and searching the 
sky; then wringing her hands and looking 
about in a most bewildered manner. Much 
alarmed at the woman’s actions they hurled 
at her a perfect avalanche of questions. 

* ‘Where is Queen Anne?” “What are you 
doing here?” “Has Her Majesty fallen out 
of a window?” “A Banquet and no Queen 
— how do you explain that?” “Where, 
where, is our dear, dear Anne?” 


fiTO all the anxious inquiries, which were 
accompanied by the women’s screams, 
and by the drawing of swords by some of the 
excited officers, the alarmed and startled 





The Lady-in-Waiting Frantically Searched the Heaven: 



THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


35 


Lady-in-waiting only cried out repeatedly: 
“Oh! no, no, no, no!” and then fled down the 
winding stairs, rapidly followed by the others, 
to the Queen’s own apartment. 


/jlVUICKLY searching the rooms, the 
Vl Lady-in-waiting faced the anxious 
guests— “I left her here, reclining upon the 
divan. ’Twas she who sent me to the 
Eastern Tower. I know not where she is 
now!” Forgetting that the woman whose 
place it was to wait upon the Queen, should 
be treated with Royal courtesy, they up¬ 
braided her severely for not attending the 
Queen more closely; left her prostrate upon 
the floor; went below and gave orders to the 
couriers to search far and wide for the missing 
Queen. 

5[f| e Magic from ttye ^artfjcrn 3)ac 

'JjfN Gnomeland the great grandmother 
brought forth from a cranny in the 
wall, the old earthen jar containing the Magic 
Seeds; another old Gnomide shook out from 


36 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


a sack a large number of small bags, and 
commanded each Gnomide to take one, 
explaining that they were to hold the Magic 
Seeds. Then while the Gnomes, both old 
and young, supplied themselves with small 
spades having long handles, the great-grand¬ 
mother carefully lifted off the cover from 
the jar and into each bag which the Gnom- 
ides held out to her, she solemnly placed 
a handful of Magic Seeds, admonishing the 
gleeful, elf-like creatures, and the older ones, 
as well, not to lose one of the seeds, and 
mumbled some dire penalty should they 
dare to be so careless. She then sat down 
and declared: “This is the happiest moment 
of my life, for the seeds which have 
been kept for generations, and which I, 
myself, have guarded for many years, have 
at last been given out by me, that they may 
bring into life those inanimate things — 
the lace medallions, and be a gift from 
Queen Anne to all the people of her 
Dominion.” 





Sang Lustily as They Planted the Lace Medallions 



THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


39 


3|JEAVING the Great-grandmother and 
several of the others who were very 
old to guard the diamonds, the Gnomes with 
their spades; the Gnomides with their precious 
bags of Magic Seeds sped swiftly back to the 
woods and on out to the road which led to 
the Hamlet. 


Planting Gffje Kate iHebaUimts 

fflTHEY found the lace medallions scat- 
tered along, and two by two they went 
to work to plant them, just as the Oldest 
Gnome had instructed them to do. The 
first pair began operations as follows:—the 
Gnome dug a shallow hole, rounded it out 
and made the bottom flat; the Gnomide took 
a lace medallion from the side of the road 
where she found it — placed it down upon 
the earth in the excavation; spread the dainty 
texture out and placed a Magic Seed upon 
the drop of blood in the center. Then both 
together they threw the soft soil back over 
it and firmed it down, and while doing so, 
chanted: 


40 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


“O Beloved Queen Anne, in faith this song we chant, 
While a lace medallion we most lovingly plant; 

Upon the drop of blood, a Magic Seed we place, 
Which will bring forth a flower of exquisite grace. 

Its snow-white head, and heart of red,’twill proudly lift 
And thus fulfill thy bequest — a wonderful Gift.” 


/jAFF they went again, many speeding 
ahead, and stopped and planted the 
lace wherever they found it; along narrow 
paths, at the edge of the road, under cottage 
windows and by the doorsteps. Some glee¬ 
fully gathered up the medallions, and for¬ 
getting the instructions, went into the 
farmers’ fields, where they planted them with 
a lavish hand. Here and there — back 
again to the road, and along the banks of a 
small stream, carefully and faithfully they 
kept at their loving task until all the medal¬ 
lions they found, had been planted. Then 
they were puzzled, for they had many seeds 
left in their bags. 

5[l)e fxljausteb (^ueett fflas Asleep 

^TTHE Oldest Gnome advised them to search 
further for more lace to plant. So 
out into the open space and onward they 






They Found the Exhausted Queen Asleep 






THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


43 


sped looking everywhere for the precious 
fabric. They found a few pieces and planted 
them, then leaped and frisked about until 
they came to a vine-covered stone wall, 
and there they found the poor, exhausted 
Queen reclining against its rough surface, 
fast asleep. They gathered protectingly 
around her, and with long brown fingers 
pressed against their lips, kept vigil until 
they heard a rumbling sound and looking 
around they saw Her Majesty’s own elegant 
coach upon the road. The coachman and 
footman were looking anxiously from one side 
to the other. '‘They are looking for the 
Queen,” the Oldest Gnome said, and when 
they came nearer, all the gnomes leaped across 
the wayside and sprang up into the trees. 

^|THE men recognized the sleeping Queen 
at once, but were greatly puzzled, for 
they had thought that the woman whom they 
had brought to the outskirts of the city, was 
just one of the women who served the Queen. 
They lost no time, however, in trying to 


44 


THE QUEEN 'S GIFT 


unravel the mystery, but lifted the Queen 
up, and carried her to the coach — totally 
oblivious, poor unfortunate men, that a 
Tribe of Gnomes had leaped down from the 
trees and had assisted them, or that Her 
Majesty’s smile, as she awoke and found 
herself upon the cushioned seat, was not 
meant for them alone, but also for her old 
friends — the Gnomes. 

S the coach disappeared down the road 
" V the Tribe of Lace Planters gathered 
up the many pieces which Anne had dropped 
near the stone wall, and planted them most 
anywhere, as darkening clouds over the 
moon, and the distant roll of thunder warned 
them to hasten. They dug larger holes, in 
which they planted several medallions, yet 
carefully; each with its Magic Seed upon the 
spot of blood, until all were disposed of — 
and just in time, too, as the first big drops of 
rain began to fall. They scampered away 
to Gnomeland and arrived as daylight was 
breaking and a heavier shower came down. 


THE QUEEN'S GIFT 


45 


QPueett Amt t Setunta to tf|e QIaatle 

JjJjHEN the Queen arrived at the Castle 
^ and heard the gay sounds of the 
Banqueters, she gave the command that 
she be taken around to the side entrance 
where there was a private staircase leading 
to the rooms above. This was done, and as 
she was assisted from the coach, she cau¬ 
tioned the men to say nothing of her absence 
or where she had been. They bowed in obedi¬ 
ence, and opened the door to the stairway. 

JttlJITHOUT being seen or heard, Anne 
reached her own apartment. There 
she found her Lady-in-waiting lying upon 
the floor, crying bitterly, and hastened to 
her side. Forgetting her position, as one 
serving the Queen, the woman got up quickly, 
threw her arms around Anne and exclaimed 
in joy over her return. Then told in words 
which tumbled one against the other, in her 
haste, of the great consternation which had 
spread throughout the Castle, when she had 
failed to appear for the festivities, and how 


46 


THE QUEEN ’$ GIFT 


the advisors, army officials and all the ladies 
attending the Banquet, had searched for her. 


“TCVEN to the Eastern Tower they came,” 
she added in a trembling voice, “Where 
they found me, and demanded me to tell 
them where you were, and why you did 
not attend the Banquet. They made a 
great noise, and I was terribly alarmed, and 
hastened down here, only to find that you 
had disappeared. They blamed me cruelly, 
then went down and sent out couriers to 
search for you everywhere.” Then wringing 
her hands, she began to cry, and said: “O I 
looked again and again, even into a dreadful 
.spider’s web, in the Eastern Tower, for the 
‘Priceless Emerald,’ but could not find it. 
I searched and searched the heavens for the 
‘Star of Hope’ but there were so many 
bright stars I could not tell which was the 
right one.” 

^THE Queen laughed lightly, enjoying her 
own joke, (for the errand upon which 
she had sent the woman, was just an 


THE QUEEN'S GIFT 


47 


excuse to be rid of her) but made no explana¬ 
tion, and comforted the Lady-in-waiting, 
who immediately dried her tears; quickly 
removed the Queen’s cloak, and arrayed her 
in a gorgeous robe and sparkling jewels, for 
the festivities which were still going on below. 


JjjlER Majesty’s entrance into the Banqueting 
Hall was greeted with dignified rapture 
and courtly grace, as they all arose from 
the table, and bowed before her, but of 
course, no questions were asked, for who would 
dare inquire of a Queen as to where she had 
been? 


W HEN the High Officials and other guests 
had departed, Her Majesty’s physician 
inquired most solicitously after her health. 
When she told him that she had enjoyed a 
most wonderful and refreshing sleep, he 
looked at her in amazement and incredulity. 
And no wonder, for how could he know that 
she had been asleep against an old vine- 
covered stone wall? 


48 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


3ft )t Passing of tfye Reasons 

Qi UTUMN passed with a flash of brilliant 
* * coloring of tree and bush; birds sang 
their farewell songs and flew away to sunnier 
climes. Sometimes Queen Anne sat in her 
Royal Chair of State, or in the Council 
Chamber. Many discussions took place cover¬ 
ing the political situation, and how to end 
the struggle for power. Still the War raged. 

Jjttt'INTER brought the snow storms, and 
many a visit from old Jack Frost, with 
his paint brush dripping with icy crystals. 
Sometimes much fog prevailed, and sky and 
sea were blotted out. In the Castle it was 
warm and comfortable, and Anne saw to it 
that her beloved peasants did not suffer 
either from want of fuel, food, or comforting 
words. Her armies continued to be victorious. 
Yet she was sad much of the time, and her 
health far from being good. The thought, 
however, of her friends, the Gnomes, and the 
wonderful flowers she would see in due time, 
cheered her through many weary nights. 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


49 


About (jfmamelanfr 

'2jfN Gnomeland the older Gnomes were 
^ happy and busy, and only left their 
abodes when it was their duty to guard 
the miners and the mines; the duties of the 
older Gnomides was to guard the sparkling 
diamonds, and this trust they performed 
faithfully. All the little children of the 
Gnome Tribe had to do was to amuse them¬ 
selves, yet they had but few things to play 
with — just the few bits of coal which were 
occasionally brought to them from the mines, 
and the many Fulgaridae or Lantern-flies, 
whose flashing lights pleased them. These 
glowing insects they chased and caught; 
placed some here and there in the bushes, 
and many in their own hair, and called them 
“Flying Gems” and loved them very much 
and never hurt them in any way. 


/TTHE Great-grandmother, however, sug- 
gested that something new from “the 
World” should be brought into Gnomeland. So 
it came about that two of the oldest Gnomes, 


50 


THE QUEEN 'S GIFT 


accompanied by a child Gnomide, went 
forth to select something which would 
amuse them all. 


Qftje OTittgleaa anil ufatllcas Strha 

JjtjtHETHER the three chosen ones went 
to New Zealand and found the wingless 
and tailless bird, called the Apteryx or Kiwi, 
or coaxed some gruff Captain of a strange 
looking vessel, from which cargo was being 
unloaded upon the shore, to give them six of 
the wingless birds, wdiich the child Gnomide 
decided upon — is their secret! The Apteryx, 
while in their own country always displayed 
a fierce temper, took a great liking to the 
Gnomes and the little golden-haired Gnom¬ 
ide, and all six of them speeded with their 
new owners into Gnomeland where they were 
welcomed with shouts of delight. 


'HEN the children found that the birds 
had no wings or tails, they formed 
a game into which the Apteryx entered 
with great zest. The little Gnomes and 


I 


























The Apteryx and Gnome Playing in Gnomeland 


53 




THE QUEEN’S GIFT 

Gnomides would run and leap into the trees, 
and the birds (who could speed along very- 
fast on their short legs) kept right up with 
them. But try as they might and did, they 
could neither fly into the trees, leap into 
them, or crawl up the trunks. So the children 
would lean down from the branches and 
with their long brown hands, pull the beaks 
of the birds, and taunt them. The Apteryx , 
however, had great fun in catching hold of 
the flying tassels of the caps of the children 
— pull them off, and sprint away with them 
and hide in the bushes, where, of course, the 
Gnome children would soon find them. 

QL T night the wingless birds slept under 
the bushes so soundly, they never 
saw the children playing around with the 
Lantern-flies. They did not eat at night, 
but were ravenously hungry in the mornings. 
Loath as they were to do it, the children were 
compelled to feed the Lantern-flies to the 
Apteryx , as there was nothing else in 
Gnomeland for them to eat. 


54 


THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


/jf?REEDILY the birds ate up their meals 
M' each morning, while the little Gnome 
children ran away to hide their dismay, 
where the great white lilies bloomed. Here 
the Apteryx always followed them, and 
drank from the cupped petals of the dew- 
filled flowers. Yet the children loved the 
wingless playmates very much; fondled them 
and played with them all day long. Once 
they went to see the Gnome owl, but his 
fierce scolding and hooting, and the terrible 
scratching with his claws, frightened them 
away and they never went there again. 

tSftjE liagit Sjluuiera Are ©looming! 

£LPRINGTIME at last! With it the gay 
^ songbirds; the sweetly scented wild 
flowers; Queen Anne somewhat better; 
doors thrown open — children running glee¬ 
fully out into the sunshine; peasant women 
busy with household duties; the farmers 
planning their gardens and the plowing of 
the fields, and the War drawing nearer to its 
end! 






















































































































A Gnomide Was the First to Discover the Flowers in Bloom 










THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


57 


"VERY night during this time and on 
into the warmer nights of approaching 
summer, the Gnomes and Gnomides leaped 
and frisked about searching the earth where 
the lace medallions had been planted. They 
were the first to discover the thin green stalks 
pushing up the soil; knew when the fernlike 
leaves grew side by side along the stems, and 
clasped their long brown fingers together in 
glad anticipation as the small green button¬ 
like forms appeared on the very top of each 
stalk. As the weather grew warmer, these 
buttons or buds opened slowly and put out 
many fine threads of pale green, the ends of 
which formed tiny balls of light pink; these 
soon spread out into numerous lace-like 
umbels, changing into lovely white flowers, 
and as a whole was shaped like a medallion. 
In the center a round formation grew, then 
separated into four very small sections — a 
bright red in color. 

JTT H E Gnomes and Gnomides were de- 
lighted beyond expression; examined 
many flowers, and were loath to leave them 


58 


THE QUEEN'S GIFT 


when the Oldest Gnome clapped his hands 
and called them to his side. 

“CT'HESE dainty lace-like flowers of ex- 
^ quisite form and color,” he exclaimed, 
“are exact reproductions of the lace medallions 
which the gracious Queen scattered around, 
and which we planted, even to the tiny red 
centers so like the drops of blood upon which 
the Magic Seeds were placed.” As the old 
Gnome finished speaking, the whole Tribe 
cheered and hugged each other in ecstasy, 
and one beautiful little golden-haired Gno- 
mide kissed the lovely flowers. 

(fltEElt AttttE ®El)olhs Q{Ije BJonilEtfttl 
HflouiEtB 

^TAKING two long stalks, with the larg- 
^ est and most fully developed flowers 
upon them, the Oldest Gnome pulled them 
out of the ground and told the Tribe 
that he was going to take them to Queen 
Anne; one to present to her; the other to 
plant near one of the doors of the Castle. 





“Wonderful! Wonderful!” exclaimed Queen Anne, in Delight 




THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


61 


He admonished them to remain among the 
flowers until his return. They watched him 
speeding away in the moonlight, holding the 
long stalks at arm’s length before him, the 
glistening white flowers nodding in fantastic 
fashion, until he disappeared from their 
sight. 

JjfttHEN he arrived at the Castle he looked 
around, found the private stairway 
and went lightly up and entered the Queen’s 
apartment. He saw that she was alone, 
reclining upon the divan, looking very pale, 
and he feared that she was ill. She felt his 
presence as he bowed before her, however, 
and aroused herself. Then she saw the 
flowers on their long stalk — stretched out 
her hands, and when her fingers closed around 
them, she exclaimed in rapture: 

"/|AH my friend! Wonderful! Wonderful! 

These flowers from the Lace Medal¬ 
lions and Magic Seeds which you have 
brought to me! My Gift to my beloved 
Subjects — to all my people! Now my wish 


62 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


has been fulfilled, and far, far beyond my 
dreams! And to you and all the Gnomes 
my heart gives love and gratitude!” 

77(0 these words the oldest Gnome replied, 
with much emotion: “Most Gracious 
Queen — ’twas your own loving thought 
first prompted the act — we but followed 
after. To you the praise — to you the 
love of all thy people! The flowers are 
growing in great abundance everywhere; 
your beloved Subjects will receive the Gift 
which you have bestowed upon them, and 
thank and bless you all their lives!” 

TTtHK Queen tried to express her feelings 
again, but her lips trembled and the 
words would not come. She pressed the 
lovely flowers to her heart, and bowed her 
head low over them. The old Gnome, 
seeing that her joy was very great, and his 
mission ended, silently and swiftly left the 
Castle. At the side of the entrance to the 
stairway, he planted the stalk of flowers, 
which he had left there. Having no spade, 


THE QUEEN *S GIFT 


63 


he dug up the soft earth with his long fingers 
carefully planted the flowering stalk, and 
left it glistening in the moonlight. 

Qflje Kagical liaappeatance of 
tljc Ofmamea 

TjtjtHEN he joined the other Gnomes he 
found them very enthusiastic over the 
fact that they had discovered many beautiful 
night flying moths hovering over the white 
flowers, and as they pointed them out to 
him, he, too, became much interested at the 
new and beautiful sight. One little Gnomide 
was found looking intently at a wood-nymph 
(Neonympha sosybius ) or small drab-colored 
butterfly with blue eyelike spots on its wings. 
It was fast asleep, with its feet hidden in the 
umbels of the flowers. 


ELECTING a long stalk with many lovely 
^ flowers upon it, the Oldest Gnome 
pulled it up and told the Tribe to follow 
quickly, that he was going to take the 
magic seed flowers to his Great-grandmother, 
that she might rejoice in the Queen’s Gift. 


64 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


So they all leaped and frisked back to the 
Woods where they began to tell the owl about 
the wonderful flowers (which the Oldest 
Gnome held up for him to see); how they 
grew just everywhere, and how charming 
they were with the night-flying moths hover¬ 
ing over them. 

“£TKEE! Skee! Skee! Why tell me!” he 
^ screeched in reply, “I was there be¬ 
fore you were, and saw them first.” This 
reproof was followed by terrible, vicious 
scratching of his sharp claws, upon the branch 
where he sat, and by such ear-splitting 
screeching and hooting, that the whole tribe 
of Gnomes disappeared as if by magic. 

“The tireless Gnome owl was left alone, 

To guard the Treasure under the Stone.” 

S[l)e (fueett Ss ®eai>! 

Jtt|tHEN the Lady-in-waiting came in, 
a few minutes after the Old Gnome 
had left, she was alarmed and dismayed to 
find Queen Anne lying back upon the divan, 
very white and still, clasping a new and 
strange looking flower-stalk, with many 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


65 


glittering white blossoms upon it, against 
her heart. Without delay the Lady-in-wait- 
ing summoned Her Majesty’s physician, who 
came at once, and found that the Queen 
was dead. He turned to the grieving woman 
and said: “I believe the excitement over the 
heated discussion she had with one of her 
advisors, whom she afterwards dismissed, 
must have caused the malady from which 
she has been suffering, to take this final and 
sad turn. We have lost a good Queen!” 

5fl}e (fueen’s (tjnft! 

fllTHE news of the death of Queen Anne 
spread through the Hamlet the next 
morning, with great rapidity. The peasants 
ran out of their homes and joined their 
neighbors; the women wept together; the 
men expressed sorrow, and discussed the 
many good qualities of the Queen, and what 
her passing away meant to them. When 
they went away to their fields, the women 
wiped away their tears, and started to go 
back to the duties of the homes which awaited 


66 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


them, they discovered many new and strange 
lace-like flowers blooming about their door¬ 
steps, which in their deluge of grief they had 
not noticed before. While they were ex¬ 
claiming over, and admiring them, the lace- 
makers, who had recognized the design as 
the exact facsimilie of the lace medallions 
they had made into a robe for the Queen; 
ran down the road, excitedly called the 
women together, and declared the lovely lace¬ 
like flowers was a token of Her Majesty’s love 
— a Gift which she had bequeathed to them. 

Qi LITTLE child plucked a flower; held it 
* * to her cheek, ran to her mother, and 
exclaimed: “Look at it — ’tis Queen Anne’s 
lace handkerchief.” The women all agreed 
that it did resemble a dainty lace fabric such 
as the Queen might have carried, yet they 
decided to call the memento “The Flower of 
Queen Anne’s Lace.” 

^TTHE farmers, however, plowing their fields 
and not knowing that the lace-like flowers 
which they found growing profusely every- 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


67 


where, had been lovingly accepted by their 
women folk, as a Gift from the Queen, 
ruthlessly uprooted them and cast them aside, 
declaring that they were “pesky, obnoxious 
weeds” and that “a great pest has come into 
our fields.” 

^THE Scienticians, those savants of much 
^ learning, however, classed the plant as 
“Daucus Carota ” a sort of wild carrot; white 
roots; flowers interesting and beautiful! Those 
men were Botanists, whose backs were bent 
from much stooping over, microscopes in 
hand while they studied, and surely they 
Knew a Flower From a Weed. 

CT’HE morning after the Queen’s death, the 
Lady-in-waiting found the stalk (which 
the Oldest Gnome had planted) with its 
exquisite white flowers blooming near the 
private stairway entrance, and noted that 
the design was the same as that of the lace 
robe which the Queen had liked better than 
any of her possessions. She called the Royal 
mourners’ attention to her discovery; ex- 


68 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


plained how she had found a cluster of the 
same kind of flowers in Anne’s hand when 
she died. They marveled over the matter, 
and declared, just as the peasant women had, 
that it was surely meant to be a token from 
her to them, and they lovingly accepted it 
as a wonderful Gift. 

all those of the Higher as well as the 
^ Lower Classes mourned for their Queen; 
spoke feelingly of her many good deeds, 
and their hearts were full of gratitude 
for the beautiful Gift — the last and most 
wonderful of them all! 

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from 
the Soul; and the heart of man knoweth none more 
fragrant.” — HOSEA BALLOU. 


Qi FEW weeks later, great news — good 
* * news — spread throughout the land. 
The clash of swords and the cannons’ roar 
had ceased! The War was over! The War 
of Spanish Succession. England was vic¬ 
torious! 





SECURE FROM HARM, 


A HI) 




Lin®a to u WHITE SPIDER - 

THY TOUCH, ARACHNK, EXQUISITE!.Y FINE, 

FEELS OF EACH THREAD ALONG THE SILVER LINE 
OF THE MINTY LADDER, AND ON AND UP 
TO THE LACE-LOOS FLOWER; NOW GREEN AND CUPPED - 
A CRADLE - WHEREIN SLEEP THY SP3HEELINGS, 


SPIDER-WASP’S STINGS. 

---MOFFATT. 



THE QUEEN’S GIFT 


71 


ffiace Sflouierfl attb Wtyltt g>piiera 


“If you wish to live and thrive , 
Let a spider run alive ”. 


—From an old Kentish proverb. 



TCNGLAND is not the only country where 
>5 * % ' Queen Anne’s Lace Flowers grow; they 
bloom in other lands — and here in our 
Beloved America, they are much admired. 
Their lacy white heads can be seen waving 
at the top of tall stalks in the yards of 
rich and poor alike; in fields; corners 
of fences; along railroad tracks — sometimes 
growing in single form, here and there — 
again in groups. Sometimes a field of the 
white flowers resemble an army with waving 
flags of truce; declaring for peace; surrender¬ 
ing into the fair hands that welcome them, 
or into the ruthless ones that pluck them and 
cast them aside. But do what you will with 
them, they will come again, and, as the 
Oldest Gnome said “bloom year unto year.” 

33 A I NT Y white spiders with pale green 
^ legs, resembling the flowers so closely 
in color that they often pass unnoticed, crawl 


72 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


over the flowers, and when alarmed hide 
quickly under the tiny white umbels. When 
time changes the color and shape of the 
flowers, the arachnida, or spiders, weave 
ladder-like webs up the stalks to the green 
cupped forms on top, which serve as cradles 
for their spiderlings. Here they are securely 
hidden away from the wasp, called the spider- 
wasp, whose sting would mean death to them. 

/ TIF you do not disturb or hurt them, spiders 
*** will not harm you, so why not let them 
“run alive” that they may weave their 
wonderful and beautiful webs? When the 
dew sparkles upon the finely woven designs, 
are they not artistic and interesting? Then 
do not destroy spiders or their webs. 


Ask ttfe (gnomes—Sljejj jKtunu! 

fY DEARS — take a stroll some Spring 
or Summer morning; see Queen Anne’s 
lace flowers when the dew is upon them. 
Gather them, and know their beauty. With 
delight you will see the medallion-like clusters 
of white umbels sparkling like diamonds,- 


THE QUEEN ’S GIFT 


73 


while the glowing red centers, although very 
small, are not unlike the ruby in color that 
precious gem so admired by all. When at 
home, hold a magnifying-glass over the 
flowers, and you will agree with others, that 
never before had you realized that the whole 
flower was made up of so many dainty 
medallion-like forms. 

'Tf F in doubt as to the origin of the flowers, 
as given herein, get acquainted with the 
Gnomes—ask them—THEY KNOW! Per¬ 
haps if you are very good, and don’t make 
fun of them, they will roll back the Stone, 
and show you the ORIGINAL MEDALLION 
OF LACE FROM QUEEN ANNE’S ROBE. 


Vivat la fleur, Reine Anne's dentelle! 














































Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Sept. 2009 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724) 779-2111 










LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





























































